Pop & Rock News

He was Nigerian guitar God, famous for his incendiary lead breaks with Aktion and Monomono. She was one of Nigeria's first female band leader who went off to the US and became a big deal in the New Jazz scene there. It should be no surprise then that when Jimi Lee and Monah Finnih got together in 1980 for A Stroll In The Moonlight, an Afro Jazz cosmic funk masterpiece was born. Intricately arranged, beautifully produced and showcasing musicianship of the highest order, A Stroll In The Moonlight was a notch above anything else that was coming out of Nigeria at the time. I Love Myself' is the perfect amalgam of a tight, horn-driven Lagos groove and an American New Jazz sheen. People of the World' is pure Afro Funk, brightened by Jimi Lee's sunny, twangy guitar. Son of A Man' brings reggae to the table and Iya Alakara' is a Lijadu Sisters style cosmic paean to beefcakes and plantains. Taking a stroll with Nigerian music's oddest couple is a slinky, funky affair that comes highly recommended, but be warned: You'll work up a sweat.

For the past four decades, a growing cult of soul music collectors have sought two obscure LPs and a handful of extremely rare 45s released on the vanity record label LAD Productions, Inc. between the late seventies and the mid eighties by the mysterious South Side Chicago singer/song writer Larry Dixon.
Larry's raw songs capture the transition from R&B to boogie-down as disco was rapidly becoming extinct.
They also perfectly illustrate Larry's ability to overcome his environment and discrimination, transcended by his determination to write and produce music. With the support of his faithful musicians, Larry's success was only hindered by lack of airplay and promotion, but his talent shines through.
This is the story of Larry Dixon, his label LAD Productions, Inc., and his friends and family throughout four decades of music in Chicago's toughest neighborhoods.
Jerome Derradji is proud to reactivate Past Due Records - the boogie funk division of Still Music to release this fantastic archive - what many consider to be the Holy Grail - of Chicago Funk, Boogie and Soul.
'Star Time' will be released in a limited 500 copies 10 X 7" Box Set, a limited 500 copies 4 LP Box Set, DCD and Digitally - all faithfully reproducing the vision of LAD Productions, Inc.
It features each and every Larry Dixon's releases from 1971 to 1987, including the ultra rare 'I'am So In Love' LP recorded live at the Copherbox Club in 1980 and the ultra rare boogie funk 'Can't Price Love' LP, each carefully re-mastered from the original tapes and a lot more!
Many unreleased songs (some mixed by Jerome Derradji) are also featured. Each format includes a unique booklet with the story of Larry Dixon and his friends, written by Jacob Arnold, along with numerous pictures and documents previously never published. Artwork is by Al Kent from Million Dollar Disco.

Simone Di Bella aka Dj Simon Weeks is a well-established manufacturer in the current dance scene with Penn Side promising young dj producer, form a duo musically interesting. In "A New Day" with the collaboration of Tony T (star in 2008 with his inconfondile voice of the successful "Shine On" by RIO), giving this song a bubbling and festive, tropical taste, characterized by elegant sounds, insistent groove and melodies dream. L 'EP is completed by 5 remixes, far from existing sounds and every taste

I can hardly believe the very first edition of the Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club came out in 2012 - much time has passed, but my mission remains the same - to give you lucky lucky people another hard hitting selection - a crafty musical right hook, another fist full of funky things - and this new collection packs a hell of a punch!

For Volume 4 - we open up with 3 disco tinged bangers, Kylie Auldists' Family Tree will transport you directly onto the dance-floor of New York's legendary Studio 54 discotheque - Smoove & Turrell's cover of Hot Chocolates' You Could Have Been A Lady' has got that Newcastle boogie oogie oogie vibe down - Lexsoul DanceMachine have marinated Beef Grinder in sizzling hi hat cymbals and a spicy clav riff so saucy Stevie Wonder would be shocked!

Add into the mix 3 classics dug from the crates - one from Brian Auger, one of the best Hammond organ players ever, one intensely catchy number from from Ginger Johnson & His African Messengers, and a super rare track from John Heartsman & Circlesthat comes from an album so rare that it has changed hands for $5,000!

Mix in a crop of contemporary funk, soul and latin bangers from acts such as The New Mastersounds, The Tibbs, Lisa Stansfield, Lack Of Afro ft Joss Stone, Sunlightsquare, Marta Ren & The Groovelvets, Flevans, a killer groove from Lance Ferguson's Black Feeling Vol 3, a 100% exclusive track from The Fantastics! feat Sulene Fleming too, and you've got the soundtrack to an instant party on your hands..

So there you have it boys & girls - I give you The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club Volume 4 - the cream of the current crop, the choicest cuts of my favourite slices of the slinkiest soul, weapons grade funk bombs - it does exactly what it says on the tin..and then some.

Craig Charles.

Louie Vega's latest album, Louie Vega Starring... is a dualdisc conceptual record featuring over twenty-five artists on twenty-eight different songs. The record is Louie Vega's first solo album ever and a contender for his magnum opus. Vega is in esteemed company, with a seasoned group of collaborators imparting their magic for this special project including; Funkadelic & George Clinton; The 3 Winans Brothers and The Clark Sisters; Jocelyn Brown; Nick Monaco & Soul Clap; N'Dea Davenport; Lisa Fischer; Cindy Mizelle; Anane Vega; Monique Bingham; Caron Wheeler (Soul II Soul); Josh Milan; Bucie; Tony Momrelle; Kaylow; Vikter Duplaix; Cassio Ware; Adeva, Covertion & Leroy Burgess; Kenny Bobienl; Zara McFarlane; Luis Salinas; Roberto Roena; Diviniti; and Byron Stingily.

By bringing together the diverse genres of house, funk, latin soul and gospel, Louie Vega has created a record filled with positive vibes. Like a fine bottle of wine, the album's ingredients and their interactions with each other come to the light upon pressing play. Listeners can expect notes of Afro & Latin and pure house infused with funk, gospel, Caribbean, jazz, r&b, soul. All the ingredients for a truly global party.

Each song is uniquely crafted to represent a different emotion, energy or experience. Their melange with Louie Vega's timeless music production is the album's true treat, 'Today's listener wants to feel good and that's exactly what our songs and tracks do. We celebrate the gift of love, art and music,' adds Vega. Followers of his illustrious career will find the album unveils a completely new side of the legendary artist; that of a sound chemist. Louie explains, 'My inspirations came from various visits around the world and experiences in life. As far as the album's sounds, I revisited lots of R&B, soul, gospel, nu jazz, even some disco, all within the backdrop of house music, took it back to the artist and song tailoring' .

Describing his artistic process, 'The album came together naturally, it was a growing process. It was like planting a tree, each branch represented an artist, a sound, a groove. The entire process happened within a few years. It started with a few songs and then this past year, I was in a creative state and the music happened back to back. As I travelled and toured, I met artists on the road and would record with them a few weeks later. The experience with the artists on the album was magical; they are all so talented and very unique and have their own special quality.'

The delivered sampling of featured artists on Louie Vega Starring... is one for the record books and a must for any music aficionado as Louie explains, 'This body of work is a masterpiece that will be party of my legacy. I see it up there on the same high shelf with albums like Nuyorican Soul, Elements of Life, and Masters at Work.'

Two sultry beatdown soul-disco reworks paying tribute to Detroit masters. Vinyl only. Hand stamped jacket.

Simply one of the greatest guitarists in jazz history, George Benson is an amazingly versatile musician, whose adept skills find him crossing easily between straight-ahead jazz, smooth jazz, and contemporary R&B. Blessed with supreme taste, a beautiful, rounded guitar tone, terrific speed, a marvelous sense of logic in building solos, and, always, an unquenchable urge to swing, Benson's inspirations may have been Charlie Christian and Wes Montgomery, but his style is completely his own. Not only can he play lead brilliantly, he is also one of the best rhythm guitarists around, supportive to soloists and a dangerous swinger, particularly in a soul-jazz format. Yet Benson can also sing in a lush, soulful tenor with mannerisms similar to those of Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway, and it is his voice that has proven more marketable to the public than his guitar. Benson is the guitar-playing equivalent of Nat King Cole -- a fantastic pianist whose smooth way with a pop vocal eventually eclipsed his instrumental prowess in the marketplace -- but unlike Cole, Benson has been granted enough time after his fling with the pop charts to reaffirm his jazz guitar credentials, which he still does at his concerts.

In the wake of "This Masquerade," the balance of power shifted for the first time toward George Benson's suddenly marketable voice, four of the six tracks on In Flight are vocals. By this time, Benson was tailoring his tenor toward soulful pitch-bending à la Stevie Wonder on tunes as diverse as "Nature Boy" and "The World Is a Ghetto," and the unison scatting with the guitar that caught fire with the public on Masquerade is now pulled out whenever possible. Benson's backing band from Breezin', still set in its funk mode, is intact, and Claus Ogerman again contributes gentle orchestral cushions. The two instrumentals, particularly Donny Hathaway's "Valdez in the Country," prove that Benson remained a brilliantly inventive melodist on guitar, in full possession of his powers. Yet there is every indication here that Benson was set upon becoming primarily a pop star. By Richard S. Ginell/AMG

3rd Disco Ep on Editorial

Music and boxing have always gone hand in... glove. Whether on stage or on screen, a strong tune has always been an essential part of the gladiatorial experience and over the years, boxers, promoters and film directors have taken great care in selecting songs to inspire and intimidate.

Now, on the eve of World Heavyweight Champ Anthony Joshua's fight against anticipated opponent Wladimir Klitschko, comes a unique album The Greatest...Best Boxing Ringwalk Songs.

This 2CD set, the first of its kind, contains the most memorable songs - and one legendary poem - from the ring.

Both classic and contemporary fighters are celebrated: first up, The Greatest himself, Muhammad Ali, whose legendary poem, recited before Ali's rematch with Smokin' Joe Frazier, was first aired 45 years ago on the Michael Parkinson show (Oct 17th, 1971). Heavyweight hard man Mike Tyson used Cypress Hill's 'How I Could Just Kill a Man' as one of his ominous signatures, British superstar Lennox Lewis loved the music of James Brown and favoured classic slo-funk cuts such as 'The Payback' and 'The Boss'. '80s anthem 'Simply the Best' by Tina Turner is synonymous with Chris Eubank.

More recent stars are celebrated including British heavyweight hero Anthony Joshua MBE, who had his friend and leading grime star Stormzy perform a bespoke version of his song 'Shut Up' before AJ's clash with Dillian Whyte in 2015. The track, a b-side, entered the Top 10 the next week as a result of the fight's huge impact. We may see this repeated on 26th November ...

Tyson Fury, ex WBO, WBA, IBO, IBF Heavyweight and Ring Magazine Heavyweight World Champion - who is set to star in the new series of 'I'm A Celebrity', walked on to the Randy Travis cut 'I'm Gonna Have a Little Talk (with Jesus)'. Johnny Keating's 'Theme From Z Cars' is Tony Bellew's go-to song (also popular with his home team Everton FC). The classic 'Rock and Roll Star' by Oasis was used by fellow Manc and ex WBA Super Bantamweight Champion Scott Quigg. Ricky Hatton and David Haye, perhaps the two most famous British boxers of the last decade, are also checked, with Supra's 'Blue Moon' (Hatton) and McFadden & Whitehead's pop-soul smash 'Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now' (Haye).

2016 marks the 40th anniversary of the first Rocky movie, a film that contains possibly the most famous theme tune of them all, 'Gonna Fly Now' by Bill Conti. That song, with its triumphant horns and strangely soulful melody is etched into the memory of a generation. For some, it proved an inspiration. World middleweight champion Tony Bellew joined the dots between real life and Hollywood when he starred in the latest Rocky film, 'Creed' in 2015. I grew up on the Rocky soundtrack,' says Bellew, who played baddy 'Pretty' Ricky Conlan, I loved it. I didn't know anyone who didn't love it. Whenever I watch any of the films, I think to myself, I'm a Rocky bad guy now. I'm one of them. So, really, the Rocky music has defined my life, my life as a boy, and my life as a man.' (quotes from the album sleeve notes, written by Elliott Worsell).

6 super hot remixes and disco re-edits you wouldn't be surprised to hear being championed by the likes of JOEY NEGRO, DIMITRI FROM PARIS or DJ HARVEY. Some famous jams paired with more rare obscure cuts to make this a must-have SPECIAL SELECTION FOR DJ. DISCO EDITS

Two massive Unreleased 12" inch disco bangers from the obscure florida band Fruit, cut loud and deep like a true disco 12 should be. The Fruit Band's fleeting existence was only recently revealed by the discovery of a few unsold copies of their sole 1978 7" single, Say It, which quickly became a cult showpiece for savvy DJs and collectors, now we finish that untold story with the LP this 12" and a soon to be released 45.Support from Gilles and tons of other in the know Djs, this is a one time deal, so dont sleep.

TK Disco come up trumps yet again with 2 absolutely solid, killer pieces of Disco Funk for the heads!
The Miami label has long had a cult following & found fame with Disco aficionado's the world over & it's easy to see why. Their back catalog is peppered with rarities & classics including the 2 cuts featured here.

Taking up the A-side is the super rare "Moon Ride" from obscure group Universal Love, an epic, storming slice of get-down Disco Soul, a real burner of a track.. drenched in Jazzy vibes & deep harmonies laced in soaring synth swells & strings, underground Disco at it's best & a real tough to catch on original 12" with copies fetching collectors prices on-line!

Over on the B-side we have the Mad Dog Fire Department's appropriately named "Cosmic Funk", a track that has shown up in the playlists of everyone from David Mancuso to Daniele Baldelli & beyond! A stomping, grooving jam laced with the FUNK. Serious business indeed, & both tracks are now available on one 12"!

All tracks featured have been carefully selected from TK Disco's deep vaults, re-mastered, re-pressed & made available again for 2015 with the permission of TK Disco's very own Joe Stone, Miami FL, USA. %100 official!

For the past four decades, a growing cult of soul music collectors have sought two obscure LPs and a handful of extremely rare 45s released on the vanity record label LAD Productions, Inc. between the late seventies and the mid eighties by the mysterious South Side Chicago singer/song writer Larry Dixon.
Larry's raw songs capture the transition from R&B to boogie-down as disco was rapidly becoming extinct.
They also perfectly illustrate Larry's ability to overcome his environment and discrimination, transcended by his determination to write and produce music. With the support of his faithful musicians, Larry's success was only hindered by lack of airplay and promotion, but his talent shines through.
This is the story of Larry Dixon, his label LAD Productions, Inc., and his friends and family throughout four decades of music in Chicago's toughest neighborhoods.
Jerome Derradji is proud to reactivate Past Due Records - the boogie funk division of Still Music to release this fantastic archive - what many consider to be the Holy Grail - of Chicago Funk, Boogie and Soul.
'Star Time' will be released in a limited 500 copies 10 X 7" Box Set, a limited 500 copies 4 LP Box Set, DCD and Digitally - all faithfully reproducing the vision of LAD Productions, Inc.
It features each and every Larry Dixon's releases from 1971 to 1987, including the ultra rare 'I'am So In Love' LP recorded live at the Copherbox Club in 1980 and the ultra rare boogie funk 'Can't Price Love' LP, each carefully re-mastered from the original tapes and a lot more!
Many unreleased songs (some mixed by Jerome Derradji) are also featured. Each format includes a unique booklet with the story of Larry Dixon and his friends, written by Jacob Arnold, along with numerous pictures and documents previously never published. Artwork is by Al Kent from Million Dollar Disco.

For the past four decades, a growing cult of soul music collectors have sought two obscure LPs and a handful of extremely rare 45s released on the vanity record label LAD Productions, Inc. between the late seventies and the mid eighties by the mysterious South Side Chicago singer/song writer Larry Dixon. Larry's raw songs capture the transition from R&B to boogie-down as disco was rapidly becoming extinct. They also perfectly illustrate Larry's ability to overcome his environment and discrimination, transcended by his determination to write and produce music. With the support of his faithful musicians, Larry's success was only hindered by lack of airplay and promotion, but his talent shines through. This is the story of Larry Dixon, his label LAD Productions, Inc., and his friends and family throughout four decades of music in Chicago's toughest neighborhoods.
Jerome Derradji is proud to reactivate Past Due Records - the boogie funk division of Still Music to release this fantastic archive - what many consider to be the Holy Grail - of Chicago Funk, Boogie and Soul: 'Star Time' will be released in a limited 500 copies 10 X 7" Box Set, a limited 500 copies 4 LP Box Set, DCD and Digitally - all faithfully reproducing the vision of LAD Productions, Inc. It features each and every Larry Dixon's releases from 1971 to 1987, including the ultra rare 'I'am So In Love' LP recorded live at the Copherbox Club in 1980 and the ultra rare boogie funk 'Can't Price Love' LP, each carefully re-mastered from the original tapes and a lot more!
Many unreleased songs (some mixed by Jerome Derradji) are also featured. Each format includes a unique booklet with the story of Larry Dixon and his friends, written by Jacob Arnold, along with numerous pictures and documents previously never published. Artwork is by Al Kent from Million Dollar Disco.



















[] 3A4 - Star Time

Copenhagen's Music For Dreams continue their string of pearls in 2016 with the 12' release of Apiento & LX's DISH.
At the request of cutting edge Danish designer Trine Lindegaard, Paul Byrne (aka Apiento) created this music to accompany her DISH project - a playful fusion of food, fashion and art - when it premiered at 2016 Copenhagen Fashion Week. For the project, Lindegaard worked with members of integration organization ITMV in Copenhagen to produce clothing items based on their favourite food dishes, Apiento and regular collaborator UK-based house producer LX, used the recorded interviews of their discussions as raw material with cut-up samples of the women's voices woven into the music for the runway show.
The result is an ethereal and avant-garde mix of crisp beats and featherlight percussion blended in a fresh and modern Oriental-flavoured Balearic groove packed with gorgeous flutes and kalimbas. The powerful dub on the flip-side brings a heavier more trippy feel geared firmly for the dancefloor.
As well as a string of great remixes and edits as Apiento, Paul Byrne is also well known for his behind-the-scenes work with labels like Junior Boy's Own, International Feel and DEEWEE, and for his highly influential blog Test Pressing.
Limited edition vinyl - don't miss.

By the mid 1970's in Nigeria, the Biafran War was a distant memory and the music scene in the eastern city of Aba was booming again. Bands like The Funkees, The Wings and The Apostles grabbed the headlines, but the more interesting stuff was coming from smaller groups like the Friimen. The Friimen, or the Friimen Muzik Company to use their official name, were influenced as much by pre-Saturday Night Fever Bee Gees as Jimi Hendrix and James Brown. In Beni Tudumey they had the best keyboardist in the city, and in Dan Igbaji, Charlie Eze and Ken Okogbue its tightest rhythm section. Throw in Gbemi Saka Toju channeling his inner Barry Gibb and you had a band quite unlike any other in the country. The result is We Can Get it On, a hybrid of West Coast ballads and dancefloor chuggers. One moment they are thanking God for making the mountains ('The Creator'), the next salaciously suggesting it's time to make the mountains move ('We Can Get It On'). Some of the songs simply state the obvious ('Music Makes You Move'.) However, it's the track, 'Salt Sweet Style', that sums up the Friimen best: We have the salt. We have the sweet. We have the style.' It's all present and accounted for on We Can Get It On.

Goddy Oku was the Eastern Nigerian music scene's Mr Fixit. Need a new guitar He'd make you one. Couldn't afford a fancy new effects pedal Give him a couple of days and he'd knock up something that would do the job. Oh, and he was also a red-hot guitarist with The Hygrades, one of the heaviest bands to come out of the east. When music started getting more electronic in the late 70's and 80's, Goddy was there, tinkering and experimenting. He built Godiac studios in Enugu, where fellow wonk, William Onyeabor recorded Crashes In Love. Between producing countless albums, he used his DIY skills and studio acumen to record One More Chance. Don't Ask Me' is the bomb, a dance floor chugger that sets the tone of the album with cheeky vocal interplay between Goddy and his backing singers, Alice Okaro and Sandra Okagbue. They're soon asking for forgiveness on 'One More Chance' and enjoying the fruits of reconciliation of the chirpy 'Everything'. One More Chance is a wonky, synth driven masterpiece that is funky and quaint in equal measures. It will bring a smile to your face and an irresistible urge to dance to your feet.

Goddy Oku was the Eastern Nigerian music scene's Mr Fixit. Need a new guitar He'd make you one. Couldn't afford a fancy new effects pedal Give him a couple of days and he'd knock up something that would do the job. Oh, and he was also a red-hot guitarist with The Hygrades, one of the heaviest bands to come out of the east. When music started getting more electronic in the late 70's and 80's, Goddy was there, tinkering and experimenting. He built Godiac studios in Enugu, where fellow wonk, William Onyeabor recorded Crashes In Love. Between producing countless albums, he used his DIY skills and studio acumen to record One More Chance. Don't Ask Me' is the bomb, a dance floor chugger that sets the tone of the album with cheeky vocal interplay between Goddy and his backing singers, Alice Okaro and Sandra Okagbue. They're soon asking for forgiveness on 'One More Chance' and enjoying the fruits of reconciliation of the chirpy 'Everything'. One More Chance is a wonky, synth driven masterpiece that is funky and quaint in equal measures. It will bring a smile to your face and an irresistible urge to dance to your feet.

He was Nigerian guitar God, famous for his incendiary lead breaks with Aktion and Monomono. She was one of Nigeria's first female band leader who went off to the US and became a big deal in the New Jazz scene there. It should be no surprise then that when Jimi Lee and Monah Finnih got together in 1980 for A Stroll In The Moonlight, an Afro Jazz cosmic funk masterpiece was born. Intricately arranged, beautifully produced and showcasing musicianship of the highest order, A Stroll In The Moonlight was a notch above anything else that was coming out of Nigeria at the time. I Love Myself' is the perfect amalgam of a tight, horn-driven Lagos groove and an American New Jazz sheen. People of the World' is pure Afro Funk, brightened by Jimi Lee's sunny, twangy guitar. Son of A Man' brings reggae to the table and Iya Alakara' is a Lijadu Sisters style cosmic paean to beefcakes and plantains. Taking a stroll with Nigerian music's oddest couple is a slinky, funky affair that comes highly recommended, but be warned: You'll work up a sweat.

Unreleased demos by Craig Peyton & Jolyon Skinner circa 1983-1985. The duo penned Howard Johnson's "Let This Dream Be Real", Melba Moore's "Love of a Lifetime" & Will Collins' "Where Ya Gonna Be Tonight", before they went their separate ways.

14 Tracks of house emotion. Feat. Amp Fiddler, Lotus, Abacus & Angel A

"Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, ABBA's Arrival has been hailed by many as 'the ultimate ABBA album'. Their third No.1 at home in Sweden, it also took the group to the top of the charts in 10 countries, including England, Germany and New Zealand, while also seeing ABBA enter the US Top 20 for the first (but not the last!) time in their career.To celebrate the album's original October 1976 release, we will be releasing a 2LP, half-speed mastered, 45rpm cut of the original album. In addition to this, four singles from the album will be released separately as 7' picture disc singles."

"Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, ABBA's Arrival has been hailed by many as 'the ultimate ABBA album'. Their third No.1 at home in Sweden, it also took the group to the top of the charts in 10 countries, including England, Germany and New Zealand, while also seeing ABBA enter the US Top 20 for the first (but not the last!) time in their career.To celebrate the album's original October 1976 release, we will be releasing a 2LP, half-speed mastered, 45rpm cut of the original album. In addition to this, four singles from the album will be released separately as 7' picture disc singles."

"Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, ABBA's Arrival has been hailed by many as 'the ultimate ABBA album'. Their third No.1 at home in Sweden, it also took the group to the top of the charts in 10 countries, including England, Germany and New Zealand, while also seeing ABBA enter the US Top 20 for the first (but not the last!) time in their career.To celebrate the album's original October 1976 release, we will be releasing a 2LP, half-speed mastered, 45rpm cut of the original album. In addition to this, four singles from the album will be released separately as 7' picture disc singles."

"Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, ABBA's Arrival has been hailed by many as 'the ultimate ABBA album'. Their third No.1 at home in Sweden, it also took the group to the top of the charts in 10 countries, including England, Germany and New Zealand, while also seeing ABBA enter the US Top 20 for the first (but not the last!) time in their career.To celebrate the album's original October 1976 release, we will be releasing a 2LP, half-speed mastered, 45rpm cut of the original album. In addition to this, four singles from the album will be released separately as 7' picture disc singles."

- Donna Summer gained prominence during the disco era of music, rightly earning the title The Queen of Disco' and
becoming one of the most successful recording artists of the 1970s and all-time best-selling female Artists.
- She was the first artist to have three consecutive Double Albums hit No. 1 on the US Billboard charts and also became
the first female artist to have four No. 1 singles in a thirteen-month period.
- Donna's catalogue has sold more than 130 million units worldwide and her music is still relevant today, 40 years after her
debut international hit reached #4 in the UK Singles Chart.
- This new collection features the International hits that propelled Donna's popularity through the decades, whilst working
on her classic albums with legendary producers Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte, Harold Faltermeyer, John Barry, Richard
Perry, Stock Aitken Waterman and Quincy Jones.
- Donna Summer's music continues to fill the radio airwaves, is used in movie soundtracks, as well as life-style TV commercials.
- The booklet includes an Appreciation by long-term collaborators and producers, Pete Bellotte and Harold Faltermeyer.
- Available on CD, Download, Special 2LP Gatefold and 3CD Deluxe Edition

- Donna Summer gained prominence during the disco era of music, rightly earning the title The Queen of Disco' and
becoming one of the most successful recording artists of the 1970s and all-time best-selling female Artists.
- She was the first artist to have three consecutive Double Albums hit No. 1 on the US Billboard charts and also became
the first female artist to have four No. 1 singles in a thirteen-month period.
- Donna's catalogue has sold more than 130 million units worldwide and her music is still relevant today, 40 years after her
debut international hit reached #4 in the UK Singles Chart.
- This new collection features the International hits that propelled Donna's popularity through the decades, whilst working
on her classic albums with legendary producers Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte, Harold Faltermeyer, John Barry, Richard
Perry, Stock Aitken Waterman and Quincy Jones.
- Donna Summer's music continues to fill the radio airwaves, is used in movie soundtracks, as well as life-style TV commercials.
- The booklet includes an Appreciation by long-term collaborators and producers, Pete Bellotte and Harold Faltermeyer.
- Available on CD, Download, Special 2LP Gatefold and 3CD Deluxe Edition












with Barbra Streisand

- This 3CD deluxe collectors' edition contains more than 50 classic tracks from 1968 onward, including more than
25 UK hits.
- This special edition includes collaborations with BARBRA STREISAND, BROOKLYN DREAMS, PAUL JABARA &
MUSICAL YOUTH.
- Soundtrack featured songs HOT STUFF, DOWN DEEP INSIDE, ROMEO, HIGHWAY RUNNER, ON THE RADIO &
LAST DANCE.
- Also includes rare Original German Cast Recordings from 'HAIR' & 'GODSPELL'.



















































[ZZA] CD14 | When love cries (single version remix)
[ZZB] CD15 | I will go with you (con te partirs) (radio edit)
[ZZC] CD16 | Love is the healer (Eric Kupper's "I feel healed" 7' mix)
[ZZD] CD17 | I got your love (radio edit)
[ZZE] CD18 | Stamp your feet (Jason Nevins radio edit)
[ZZF] CD19 | Fame (the game) (Dave Aude radio)
[ZZG] CD20 | To paris with love (Mendy radio edit)

"It all started in 1974 with the purchase of my first Mini Moog and another 70's dream machine, a white Mellotron M 400." So starts Klaus Hoffmann of his 40 years love affair with the Mellotron. Moving from Prog-Rock guitarist to Cosmic Disco warrior in a space of a few years, the birth of Cosmic Hoffmann would lead to a number of classic Kosmiche albums through-out the 1980s. Before this though came Space-Disco. Initially recorded in 1978 after endless late night sessions exploring the new realms of this free form electronic music, the first incarnation was recorded live to tape for a failed film project. An uplifting spaced-out synth journey, it was the later reworked version that would go on to become the lost cult classic. With added disco syncopation taking the track into interstellar spheres, it appeared only as a flipside of Cosmic Hoffmann's first and last single, "Weltraumboogie", in 1982. Unfortunately the release did not make much impression at the time but has become highly sought-after for the more leftfield DJ and music lovers in the years since. Now fully licensed and remastered, the inclusion of the unreleased 1978 Original will be only add to the collectors dream.

We're delighted to announce the reissue as this ultra-rare LP, originally issued on JSR Records back in 1980. Heavily influenced by the likes of Bobby Hutcherson and Roy Ayers, 'Taking Care Of Business' is full of positive, uptempo soul/jazz gems, featuring Ted Coleman's wonderful vibraphone playing throughout. Not only did Coleman both sing and play piano, synth and vibes on the record, but he also designed the artwork himself, a true DIY LP if ever there was one. This DIY ethos even extended to the New Jersey label JSR who originally pressed the LP, describing themselves as: "a new company that helps working club bands that can sell their own records. JSR artists spend no money for recording or production costs, and there are no recording contracts." This could well explain the album's rarity, with original copies selling on Discogs for eye-wateringly high prices.
Ted Coleman cut his teeth playing local clubs and venues in his hometown of Pittsburgh, where his skills on vibes and mallet percussion quickly earned him popularity in the local area. 'Taking Care Of Business' was his very first studio album, blending latin rhythms with smooth jazz and soul stylings. The musicianship on the record is striking, the vocals mellow and soulful, the lyrics warm and
tender: put simply this album is designed to warm the heart. Still writing and recording at 'Joyful Noise', his Metuchen New Jersey studio, Ted Coleman also performs across the US with his "Good Vibes" band. We hope you find as much joy in this scarce and remarkable debut LP as we do.

Originally released on the mighty Y Records in 1982, this single by Disconnection was a mutant disco cover version of a song from Rodgers and Hammerstein's 1949 musical, South Pacific which was made into a blockbuster film in 1958.

An odd choice of a song to cover Well, something was in the air back in '82 as at almost exactly the same time the Disconnection record was released Captain Sensible covered Happy Talk' from South Pacific and had a UK number 1 with it. I'd like to think he got the idea after hearing Bali Ha'i' but that would be pure speculation. What I do know is that even though the Disconnection record made barely a ripple at the time it is by far the superior record. Vocals are by Angela Jaeger

Long sought after and going for stupid money on Discogs, as a long time Y Records freak I am very honoured to have been given permission to make this curiously great record available again and to give it a home in the Optimo Music Disco Plates series. Dick O'Dell's Y Records released so many great records - The Slits, The Pop Group, PIgbag, Sun Ra, Pulsallama, Shriekback, Maximum Joy, The Tesco Bombers and Mouth amongst others - and this one is up there with the best of them.

It is released in the original configuration, Radio Mix, US Discomix and UK Discomix versions alongside the faux exotica delight that is the Angela Jaeger penned Aaaah'. It comes in a shrink-wrapped black disco bag with a 12' x 12' insert featuring the original front sleeve artwork.

Fantastic limited reissue of one of the holy grails of the Balearic scene. Recorded in 1981 by Guy Cuevas, a Cuban-born DJ living in Paris, every track is a killer. Side A features the full seven minute 12' version of 'Ebony Games' an epic Latin-tinged disco-funk floor-filler and for most the stand-out track, but Side B's mesmerising dubbed-out 'Everywhere Is My Home' and the sweet slo-mo groover 'Inside My Mind' are also brilliant. Excellent stuff!